EPA Press Release: "These days our children probably know more about protecting the environment than adults do."

Contact: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

Students in Grades 4 to 12 Invited to Share Ideas About Climate Change on New EPA Blog

Check out http://blog.epa.gov/blog/category/studentsforclimateaction/

PHILADELPHIA (February 10, 2009) – What do kids think about conserving water? Do they understand the power of public transportation? How do you pack a waste-free lunch?

These days our children probably know more about protecting the environment than adults do. And EPA wants to encourage them -- not only to learn more about taking actions to reduce their own personal energy use -- but to share their thoughts and ideas with each other through a new EPA blog.

“Young people have been the motivation behind recycling efforts and they can play an equally important role with climate change,” said William T. Wisniewski, acting regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region. “EPA’s blog is a great way to learn more and to write about what they are doing at home and in school to protect the planet.”

The blog, written by Michelle Gugger, an AmeriCorps VISTA who is working with EPA’s regional Water Protection Division, and Loreal Crumbley, an intern at EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection in Washington, D.C., will present a new topic each week. The website will also include other tools such as a carbon calculator for students to evaluate their energy use, and daily action steps.

The first discussion – scheduled to start this week – will focus on recycling CDs and DVDs. On the current blog entry, Gugger and Crumbley introduce themselves.

Check out EPA’s climate change for students website at: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/category/studentsforclimateaction/